simple, soulful

"Your Style Statement is the two words that define the true you. It's a touchstone for making more powerful choices in your life – from your wardrobe to your living room, your relationships to your career plans. Your Style Statement is where your essence meets your expression." - Danielle LaPorte and Carrie McCarthy, Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design

Simple, soulful. I know it doesn't seem like much, yet defining my style statement has been an important milestone in my career and life as a creative soul. These two words have helped me make decisions about chairs and outfits, and enlightened my path whenever I wandered too far away from my true self. So when I was offered the opportunity to conduct an e-course on photography earlier this year, I couldn't think of better words to define it. 

The Simple Soulful Photography e-class (October 4-31) is a four-week workshop complete with lessons and challenges that will encourage you to find and express your authentic self through photography. I envisioned this e-class like I would arrange a meet-up with good friends in a small café. I come in early and journal while waiting patiently for familiar and friendly faces to appear. This place is our café. This is your place. Where imperfections are celebrated, insights are shared and souls are nurtured. A place where we support each other on our quest to finding our authentic self and building a more creative and fulfilling life.

I am most excited today to give away 3 registrations for the Simple Soulful Photography e-class. Please share with us your style statement or what words define your work and true, authentic self and leave a comment here to be entered in a random drawing between now and Monday 27th at midnight PST.

Update on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by Irene Nam

thank you all so much for your comments. I truly loved reading them all, I know sharing your style statement was not easy for some of you.

And congratulations to Danielle (18th commentor), Chelsea (34th commentor) and Amy (8th commentor), you won a free registration for the Simple Soulful Photography e-class. I will email you the details directly soon. Can't wait to see you next week!

Again, thank you all for participating. I always feel bad when I do a random drawing because 1) I personally never win at those and I know the feeling very well 2) I wish I could invite you all to the e-course, I really do. So for those of you who are interested in this class but for some reason cannot participate this time, I'm creating a little something special for you. More soon. xo Irene

daring

Sometimes you have to take risks, be bold, do daring. Because...because...it challenges you. It surprises and delights you. It makes you feel alive. Isn't that reason enough?

When you find yourself in a mode of doing all the right things, all the things you are supposed to be doing to go with the status quo, try taking a chance or two. Attempt to push the boundaries. Be assertive. Audacious. Over the top. Express yourself! What have you got to lose? A little excitement never hurt anyone.

In the name of all things bold and beautiful, we are thrilled to be featuring the splashy camera strap covers by Swanky Stitch. And because they know that making a statement is all part of what makes life interesting, they are going to be giving away 3 Swanky Stitch camera straps to 3 lucky shutter sisters. All you have to do is be bold enough to comment here between now and Sunday at midnight EST for your chance to be in the random drawing to win one.

Today, let's celebrate the wow factor! Reveal your daring! Show us what you've got in the name of expressing your wild side!

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Congrats to Angie Willis, Stephanie and Diane Schuller for winning Swanky Stich camera staps!

the creative path

Do you ever just get preoccupied in the day to day, the week to week, the month to month that you forget to stop and take a look back just for the sake of recognizing how far you've traveled?

We keep walking our creative paths; striving, sharing, expressing, working, playing, moving, and creating. There are days we skip along like children, effortless in joy and other we labor just to take one more step. But, we keep walking because as creative women, it's just what we do. We wouldn't have it any other way. But what about really taking stock of all that we've done? It's high time we do that for ourselves. Because we've all come pretty far. Wouldn't you agree?

I was fortunate enough to talk about the creative path with the inspiring Jamie Ridler for a podcast at the Creative Living Series.  Just talking with Jamie helped me reflect on my own creative journey and got me to slow down long enough to look back and acknowledge how far I've come and how my once-upon-a-time dream of gathering like-minded, like-hearted creative, photography loving women together has grown and is thriving. It left me so humbled and full of gratitude that my path has led me to all of you. 

You can listen in on the podcast at Jamie's site (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN).

And in celebration of each of us and this amazing place where we gather to share our passions, how about another Expressive Photography book giveaway? Consider it an expression of my love and gratitude. And I mean it with everything I am!

Share with us something from your own creative path today. Anything at all that celebrates how far you've come! Go you!

To be entered to win a copy of Expressive Photography just leave your comment here between now and Friday at midnight EST.

Congrats to Laura Gillmore/GenBug for winning a copy of Expressive Photography! Woot!

Picture Fall

Mother Nature expresses herself a number of ways. The vast spectrum of the elements, her many creatures and a color pallet that no paint could ever match.

Each new season, a unique expression and however she feels, it influences everything. What we want to do, what we wear, how we feel; it all comes back to the whims of Mother Nature.

Why not let your lens lead you as the seasons shift again and we dive headlong into autumn where everything around us takes giant strides toward change and keeps our hearts aglow in gratitude and thanksgiving?

I invite you to join me from October 1- October 31 for my next photo-centric guided e-class called Picture Fall. What could be better than joining other shutter sisters for 30 days of soulful creative expression? I can't think of much.

In celebration of my coming class and the bountiful beauty of the coming months, we're giving away 3 complimentary registrations for Picture Fall. Just leave a comment here today to be entered in the random drawing between now and 9/16 at midnight EST.

And if you so choose, you can share on images boasting your favorite color from Mother Nature's fall pallet and let's get ready to Picture Fall together!

the magic of macro

Isn't that sweet? These bug friends are giving each other piggy back rides! Er...wait...a...second...

If I ever find myself in a photography rut, or need a break from shooting portraits I can always find inspiration by taking some macro shots. It's a nice change to focus on the tiny details in life whether they are beautiful, funny or strange (or a combination of all three!). Macro photography allows me to slow down and pay attention to my camera settings or composition a little more. 

Today, show us how you get up close and personal in your images. Express yourself!

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And in the spirit of self-expression, we're giving away another copy of our new book Expressive Photography: a Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting from the Heart. Just leave your comment here between now and Sunday at midnight EST for your chance to win!

Updated to add: YAY Cindy! You won the book! Woot!